How a SIPs House is BuiltStick v.s. SIPS
Insulation Value of Building with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)
R-Value is a measure of a material’s resistance to thermal movement. The higher the number the better the material is at insulating. According to the Dept. of Energy thermal breaks such as corners, windows, doors, and stud walls dramatically reduce the stated R-Value of virtually every product on the market except SIPs. As an example, a 2×6-stud wall 24” OC with R-19 fiberglass batts has an R-Value of 13.7. A six-inch SIP wall has an R-Value of 24.7. Simply put, a 6″ SIP wall out performs a 6″ stud wall by 58%. SIPs have the following ratings, as viewed in the image (below)…
Energy Efficiency of Building with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)
The energy efficiency of an entire wall assembly has been documented by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The testing method takes into account energy losses for the structural members, corners, joints and around windows, not just the value of the insulation. Results of these tests are shown below:
